Gold firms up on improved buying, silver ends steady

Gold prices firmed up further at the domestic bullion market here on increased offtake from stockists and retailers despite sluggish overseas sentiment.
In contrast, silver ended steady due to lack of demand from consuming industries.
Standard gold (99.5 purity) moved up by Rs 20 to settle at Rs 26,415 per 10 grams from weekend's closing level of Rs 26,395.
Pure gold (99.9 purity) also gained by a similar margin to end at Rs 26,565 per 10 grams, as against Rs 26,545 earlier.
However, silver (.999 fineness) closed at unchanged at Rs 35,595 per kg.
Globally, the shiny-metal traded almost flat in thin trade after weekend US payrolls data failed to provide clarity on the timing of a Federal Reserve rate hike.

Spot gold was lower at USD 1,120.90 an ounce in early European trade, while silver quoted little changed at USD 14.52 an ounce.